Container apparatus



March 14 1967 L, H, LEWlS 3,309,160

CONTAINER APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1965 nu. z"

L/IVFQRD ll. LEW/5 Man/a United States Ratent 3,39,i6fi Patented Mar.14, 1967 Free 3,309,160 CQNTAINER APPARATUS Linford H. Lewis, 3408Ashvilie St,

Philadelphia, Pa. 19136 Filed Oct. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 494,656 12 Claims.(Cl. 312-308) Many municipalities have promulgated ordinances whichprohibit litering streets with refuse, cigarette butts or the like.Refuse disposal containers are provided therefor, however, since much ofthe refuse is flammable, it is necessary to provide a separatereceptacle for cigarettes and ashes. The refuse containers and separatecigarette receptacles, in the past, have been subject to a great deal ofvandalism resulting in their disappearance and destruction, particularlythe smaller cigarette receptacles. Therefore, it has been necessary toprovide heavier, sturdier cigarette receptacles which are permanentlyaffixed in place; for example, by clamping to a pole. Servicing of thecontainers and receptacles and collection of refuse and cigarettestherefrom, requires extra efforts for the separate units. Furthermore,the permanent fixture nature of the recepacles makes them clumsy anddifficult to empty.

Therefore, to overcome the foregoing and other difiiculties of the priorart, the principal object of this invention is to provide a novel andimproved container apparatus for refuse, cigarettes, and ashes.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new container apparatushaving a refuse collection chamber and a separate cigarette and ashreceptacle.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved containerapparatus which provides a separate unit for receiving cigarettes andashes, which unit may be locked thereon to prohibit the disappearanceand destruction thereof by vandals.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedcontainer apparatus which provides a separate cigarette and ashreceptacle which may be easily detached and emptied by authorizedpersonnel.

t is still another object to provide a new and improved containerapparatus which has a refuse removal door that automatically secures acigarette and ash receptacle thereon when the door is closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedcontainer apparatus which may be locked together with a cigarette andash receptacle unit thereof by merely locking a refuse removal doorthereof.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedcontainer apparatus which is of high utility, providing an attractiveappearance and the one whichmay readily be manufactured at low cost.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in thedrawings, forms which are presently preferred; it being understood,however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the container apparatus embodying theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of a portion of FIGURE 1 taken alongline 22.

FIGURE 3 is a partial elevational view of the container apparatus ofFIGURE 1, showing part of the door from the inside;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of FIGURE 3taken along line 4-4;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing a portion of the recessed top ofthe door of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modified form ofcontainer apparatusembodying the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view of a portion of FIGURE 6 taken alongline 77;

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view taken in the direction of arrows 88 ofFIGURE 7.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate likeelements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a representation of the containerapparatus of the present invention designated generally as 10. Thecontainer apparatus 10 comprises a body 12 having vertical side wallpanels 14 and a back panel 18 which are of substantially rectangularform. Vertical front frame members 20, 22 together with horizontal topand bottom frame members 24, 26 provide a refuse removal opening whichis enclosed by a door 23. The door 28 is secured by hinges 30 on theframe member 20. The body 12 is enclosed at the bottom by a floor (notshown) which is secured to the bottom of panels 14, 18 and the bottomframe member 26. The body 12 is supported at it's corners by the shortleg elements 34 to elevate the floor thereof above the surface uponwhich the container apparatus is supported.

The top portion 36 of the container apparatus 10 is provided with fourinwardly inclined ledges 38 extending from the panels 14, 18 and the topframe member 24. The ledges 38 have inner edges 40 defining an opening42 communicating with a refuse collection chamber 44 within the body 10.Refuse removal may be facilitated by the provision of a basket 46 whichis positioned under the opening 42 of the body 12 for receiving andcollecting refuse which is deposited therethrough. The basket 46 is of asize which is easily accommodated by the door 28 for removal, however,being too large for removal through the opening 42.

A cigarette and ash receptacle unit 50 includes the receptacle 52 havinga cavity therein for receiving cigarettes and ashes through the openings54in its trap plate 56. The trap plate 56 is readily removable bysliding it to the back 58 of the receptacle 52, thereby allowingdisposal of any cigarettes and ashes collected therein.

The receptacle unit 50 is secured in position on the door 28, asillustrated, by a retainer means comprising a tongue member 61 and ahanger member 66. The top 67 of the door 28 is provided with a recess 69which receives the hanger member 66, hooking over and behind the door28, as shown. The U-shaped channel member 62 is afiixed by its open endsat the front of door 28, by bolts or other suitable means, to provide aslot 65 for the reception of tongue member 61 therein. It may be readilyvisualized that the receptacle unit 50 is quickly and convenientlysecured on the door 28, when open, by a downward insertion of the tonguemember 61 and hanger member 66 into the slot 65 and recess 69,respectively. The retainer means may be fabricated out of a single strap60, of a durable, suitable material, permanently aflixed to the back 58of the receptacle 52. As illustrated, the strap 6!) is bent to form ahanger member 66 at the top, and extends at the bottom of receptacle 52to provide a tongue member 61.

Notice that the receptacle unit 50 is detachable only when the door 28is in an open position. The unit may then be detached by an upwardmovement disengaging the tongue member 61 from slot 65 and the hangermember 66 from the recess 69. However, when the door is in a closedposition the top frame member 24 blocks upward movement and effectivelysecures the receptacle unit 50 on the door 28, as shown. A locking means84 is provided to lock the door 28 at the closed position and thus, thebasket 46 is lockedin body 12 and receptacle unit 50 is locked on door23. The recess 69 at the top 67 of door 28 enables the hanger member 66to hook around the back of the door, thereby preventing the receptacleunit 50 from being pulled off the container apparatus 10.

It is also noted that since the trap plate 56 can be removed only bysliding to the back 58 of the receptacle unit 50, that is, toward thefront surface of door 28 when the receptacle unit is attached thereto.As can be seen with reference to FIGURE 2, the top frame member 24 alsoblocks any sliding movement of the trap plate 56. Thus, when the door 28is in its closed and locked position, the receptacle unit 50 cannot beremoved from the apparatus 10, nor may the trap plate 56 be removed fromthe receptacle 52. The openings 54 in the trap plate 56 are ofsufiicient size to receive cigarettes, cigars and ashes, but are smallenough to prevent the removal therethrough of the contents of thereceptacle 52, either intentionally or accidentally.

Whereas, the unit 50 is supported by the door 28 it moves with the dooraway from the refuse removal opening, allowing the removal of the basket46 and the emptying of same, independently of the removal or emptying ofthe receptacle unit 50. Likewise, when the door 28 is open, thereceptacle 52 may be removed therefrom for emptying and replacementindependent of the removal or emptying of the container 46.

The alternate embodiment of FIGURE 6 shows a container apparatus 90adapted to be supported by a pole 1%, by securing thereto with straps(not shown) or the like. The body 92 has slide walls 94 which arenarrow, in comparison to the front and back of the body 92 to provide anarrower shape than the body 12 of the em bodiment shown in FIGURE 1.Also, the top of body 92 is enclosed by a top member 95 and the slopingpanel members 97. A door 96 is hinged at its top edge to swing inwardlyfor depositing refuse within the body 92. Otherwise, the body 92 isquite similar to body 12, having vertical front frame members 120, 122,horizontal top and bottom frame members 124, 126, and a door 128 securedby hinges 130'. The door may also be locked by means of a lock 184.

An alternate retainer means is provided for securing the receptacle unit150 on the door 128. The door 128 is provided with a pair of spacedrecesses 169 at the top 167, and a slot 165 therethrough, at a positionspaced below top 167, as best shown by reference to FIGURE 8. A pair ofhanger members 166 are provided at both sides of the top of receptacle152. The hanger members 166 may be short lengths of rod, welded on thereceptacle 152 and bent to form hooks for engagement in the recesses169. The hanger member 161 may be a short piece of strap welded to thebottom of receptacle 152 and bent with a reverse curve of S-shape forinsertion into the slot 165 of the door 128.

The container apparatus and 90, as described herein, thus provide for acontainer for refuse, as well as cigarette and ash receptacle, therebyproviding a more complete apparatus for use at selected locationsoutside or within buildings. Since such may be located in public places,they have the advantage of also providing a tamper-proof structure whichallows the ready and efiicient removal of rubbish and cigarettes andashes only by authorized personnel.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container apparatus comprising a body providing a chamber forcollecting refuse therein, a door secured on said body with open andclosed positions for access to said chamber, and a cigarette and ashreceptacle unit supported by and detachably secured on said door whensaid door is in said open position and locked in position on said doorwhen said door is in said closed position.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said door has aretaining slot spaced below a top edge of said door, and said receptacleunit includes a retainer means for engaging said slot and top edge ofsaid door to support and secure said unit at outside of saiddoor.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said retainer meansincludes a tongue member inserted within said slot and a hanger memberhooked over said top edge.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said retainer meansis a single strap affixed to the back of said receptacle unit, saidstrap extending below said unit a relatively short distance to form ashort tongue for insertion within said slot, and said strap being bentto form a hanger at the top of said unit for hooking over said top edge.

1 5. A container apparatus comprising a body providing a chamber forcollecting refuse therein, a door secured on said body with open andclosed positions for access to said chamber, said door having a recessat its top and a retaining slot spaced below said recess, and acigarette and ash receptacle unit including a tongue member in sertedwithin said slot and having a hanger member en gaged in said recess tohook over said top, thereby supporting and securing said unit on saiddoor.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said hanger memberincludes a portion extending along the inside of said door to lock saidreceptacle unit thereon when said door is in said closed position, saidunit being readily detachable therefrom when said door is in said openposition.

7. The apparatus in accordance wtih claim 6 wherein said door includes ameans to lock it at said closed position.

8. A container apparatus comprising a body providing a chamber forcollecting refuse therein, a door secured on sa d body with open andclosed positions for access to said chamber, said body providing a framemember along the top of said door when in said closed position, saiddoor having a recess in said top and a retaining slot spaced below saidrecess at the outside of said door, a cigarette and ash receptacle unit,and retainer means f supporting and securing the back of said unit at apositron against said outside of said door, said means including atongue member and a hanger member for a downward insertion into saidslot and recess, respectively, said receptacle thereby being readilydetachable by an upward movement thereof when said door is in said openposition, said upward movement being blocked by said frame member whensaid door is in said closed position to lock said unit thereon.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said door has ameans for locking it at said closed position.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said slot is formedby a channel member of U-shape with open ends of said shape affixedagainst said outside of said door, and said retaining means being asingle strap affixed to the back of said receptacle unit, said strap ex-5 tending below said unit a relatively short distance to form a shorttongue for insertion within said slot, and said strap being bent to forma hanger within said recess at the top of said unit for hooking over andbehind said door.

11. The apparatus in accordance Wtih claim 8 wherein said slot is anaperture through said door, and said tongue member being bent with areverse curve of S-shape for insertion within said slot.

12. An apparatus in accordance Wtih claim 8 wherein said receptacle unitincludes a trap plate having holes back of said unit when said unit isdetached from said door.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 589,344 8/1897Eccleston 22018 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. F. DOMOTOR,Assistant Examiner.

1. A CONTAINER APPARATUS COMPRISING A BODY PROVIDING A CHAMBER FORCOLLECTING REFUSE THEREIN, A DOOR SECURED ON SAID BODY WITH OPEN ANDCLOSED POSITIONS FOR ACCESS TO SAID CHAMBER, AND A CIGARETTE AND ASHRECEPTACLE UNIT SUPPORTED BY AND DETACHABLY SECURED ON SAID DOOR WHENSAID DOOR IS IN SAID OPEN POSITION AND LOCKED IN POSITION ON SAID DOORWHEN SAID DOOR IS IN SAID CLOSED POSITION.